Spring Creek plays well in loss to Hobbton

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 29, 2004 2:04 AM

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NEWTON GROVE -- Even though Spring Creek coach Roy Whitfield's team had just lost their second consecutive game of the season at Hobbton 14-7, he was overall pleased with his team's effort.

"I loved it," said Whitfield. "This was the first time in the four years of our program that the combined score for both teams was around 20 points. I've been waiting for this."

Besides leaving with a win, Whitfield had several objectives -- improve the Gators' running game, eliminate turnovers, and reduce the number of penalties. On those, he batted .500.

Spring Creek had trouble getting its offense going. Its opening drive extended to nine plays -- thanks to a roughing the kicker penalty on Hobbton -- but stalled at its own 38.

The Gators did not get their initial first down until the opening play of the second quarter, a five-yard dive by Dequan McLamb.

Assisted by a Spring Creek personal foul, Hobbton quarterback Ross Thornton hit Wayne Strickland in stride on first and ten from the Spring Creek for the first score of the game. The point after attempt was blocked.

King got his offense rolling on the next series. Mixing his plays well, he got excellent runs from the trio of Braxton Brickhouse, Josh Wright, and McLamb. With an 11-yard toss to his favorite receiver, Lelo Burt, the Gators were threatening. On second and eight from the Hobbton 23, King's pass to Burt was intercepted by Derrick McDougal at the five as the first half ended with Hobbton up 6-0.

Strickland and Thornton teamed up again to set up Hobbton's final score. The junior, who started all 13 games last year as a sophomore, hit Thornton with a 64-yard toss -- taking the ball to the eight. John White crashed in from the four at 3:59 and also ran in the two point conversion.

Spring Creek stayed on the ground exclusively for its only score. Wright, the game's leading rusher with 11 carries for 109 yards, led the way. On first and ten from the Hobbton 48, King handed off to Brickhouse, who fumbled. Wright grabbed the ball and eluded defenders into the end zone at 1:32. David Estrada split the uprights with the point after.

The Gators gave it one more shot in the fourth quarter. With six minutes left, Hobbton kicker Dustin Bryan pinned Spring Creek up against the goal line with a 39-yard kick to the one. Runs by Wright and McLamb moved the ball at to their own 44, only to have a holding call move the ball back to the 21. Bryan's sack of King and D.J. Jackson's interception of a Wright pass off of a reverse, squashed the drive.

The Wildcats will travel to Rosewood Friday, while the Gators will entertain Midway.

"Our team proved tonight," said Whitfield, "that they will put their heads down and step it up. We were hampered by King's sore ankle. It kept us from running our option."

Spring Creek 0 0 7 0 -- 7

Hobbton 0 6 8 0 -- 14

Second Quarter

H -- W. Strickland 38 pass from Thornton 8:21 (kick blocked)

Third quarter

H -- White 4 run (White run) 3:59

SC -- Wright 48 run (Estrada kick)1:32

SC H

First Downs 9 12

Rushes-yds 43-152 38-151

Pass yds 18 135

Total yds 170 286

Comp-att-int 2-18-2 4-8-0

Fumbles-lost 4-0 1-0

Penalties-yds 7-63 7-50

Punts-avg 5-33.6 6-31

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Spring Creek -- Josh Wright 11-109 TD; Bill Travis 10-40; Braxton Brickhouse 5-18; Dallas Austin 1-10; Lelo Burt 1-5; David Estrada 1-0; Mychael King 4-(-30). Hobbton -- Derrick McDougal 14-69; John White 7-59 TD; Ty Teachey 7-19; Ross Thornton 7-11; Anthony Royall 1-(-2); JoJuan Faison 1-(-5).

PASSING -- Spring Creek -- Mychael King 2-8-18-0-1; Josh Wright 0-0-0-0-1. Hobbton -- Ross Thornton 4-8-135-1-0.

RECEIVING -- Spring Creek -- Lelo Burt 2-18. Hobbton -- Wayne Strickland 2-102 TD; JoJuan Faison 1-19; Will Strickland 1-14.